Infant rocker bed

ABSTRACT

A rocker bed assembly for infants includes upper and lower hollow frame members that join with a mid-section frame via respective hinge members. The hinge members, which include push button release mechanisms, are positioned on each side of the rocker bed along the upper portion and lower frame portions and function to position the respective frame members relative to the mid-section frame. The release mechanisms enable pivoting of the frame members, and therefore, the rocker bed, between an opened, fully extended position and closed, folded position. The mid-section frame forms a slightly curved base for engaging a support surface. A flexible fabric covering is stretched tautly about the frame assembly to provide a support surface for the infant lying thereon. The taut covering, combined with the curved base, allow the bed to be rocked by the motion of the infant or by a caregiver.

BACKGROUND AND FIELD

The following relates generally to a device for rocking an infant, andmore particularly, relates to a foldable, collapsible rocker bed that issuitable for rocking an infant on a mattress of a crib or bed or othersuitable, preferably flat surface.

A variety of infant seats and rocking devices have been developed andare available on the market. For smaller infants who have not yetlearned to walk, the infant's caregiver often prefers to place theinfant in a portable “bouncy seat”, baby swing, or car seat when thecaregiver is unable to carry or hold the infant. Generally, such typesof infant seats consist of a base frame and infant seat frame pivotallyconnected to one another and a seat member with harness stretched aroundthe infant seat frame for retaining the infant in the seat. The seatportion is moveable in a bouncing type motion when the caregiver pressesdownward on the seat portion or is moveable by the weight and activityof the infant himself. U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,459, U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,591,U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,594, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,106 illustrate only afew examples of such infant seats that bounce or rock.

A problem often faced by the parents or caregivers of a newborn or smallinfant is soothing the baby to the point of sleeping. While a baby swingor an infant seat like those described above can be effective in rockinga baby to sleep, often babies will wake up again upon being removed fromthe swing or seat to be placed in the crib for a nap or for the night.

A need therefore exists for an infant rocking device in the form of acollapsible portable bed that can be placed directly onto a cribmattress or other similar surface so that the infant can be rocked tosleep in the device, either by the weight and movement of the infanthimself or by gentle rocking by the caregiver, and sleep or nap whilelying down comfortably, without requiring transfer of the infant fromthe device onto the crib or bed mattress.

SUMMARY

It is desirable to provide a portable rocking bed for small infants foruse on a surface such as a crib mattress or other similar surface thatis moveable between open and closed positions to enable folding for easystorage and transport. Further, it is desirable to provide a portablerocking bed that can be used on a stable surface for rocking an infantwhile the infant is lying down, rather than seated, and including aportable rocking bed having a comfortable yet taut support panelcovering onto which the infant is placed to facilitate rocking andfalling to sleep, such covering having a removable and washable fabricpanel for supporting the infant thereon.

Accordingly, a rocker bed assembly for infants, preferably newborns andsmall infants, is provided having upper and lower hollow frame membersthat join with a mid-section frame. The rocker bed includes sideportions that converge into a common, rounded upper back portion and arounded, lower leg portion extends forwardly from the lower ends of theside portions. A removable covering is positioned around the upper backportion and leg portions.

A distinctive feature of the rocker bed assembly is the configuration ofthe hinge connection between the upper back portion and the leg portionwith a mid-section portion. Respective connector members include pushbutton release mechanisms and are located on each side of the rocker bedalong the upper portion and lower portion. The connector members andrelease mechanisms function to lock in place or release the respectiveframe members from the mid-section frame portions. The mechanisms enablepivoting of the frame members between opened and closed positions. Whenthe bed is in the open, fully extended position, pressing on the pushbutton release mechanisms causes a release of the locked frame membersto allow for inward folding. In the folded state, then, the upper andlower frame members are folded inwardly to converge and rest on top ofthe mid-section frame.

The mid-section portion forms a slightly curved, ground-engaging basewhen the rocker bed is in its fully extended position, while the upperback portion and leg portion curve slightly upwardly. The coveringstretches across the upper and lower hollow frame members, therebyforming a taut surface upon which an infant can be placed. A standardinfant restraint is attached to the surface of the covering to preventthe infant from rolling out of the rocker bed.

The taut covering, in combination with the curved base, permits a slightrocking motion of the assembly when an infant is placed on the surfaceof the rocker bed. The rocking motion does not require any type of drivemechanism and is caused only by the weight/movement of the infant incombination with the curved base, or by a gentle manual rocking of thebed by the infant's caregiver.

The above and other advantages and features will become more readilyappreciated and understood from a consideration of the followingdetailed description of different embodiments when take together withthe accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the infant rock bed in accordancewith the present invention in the fully extended position;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the infant rocker bed of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the infant rocker bed of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the infant rocker bed of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the infant rocker bed of FIG. 1, showing one ofthe end feet;

FIG. 6 is side view, partially in section of the infant rocker bed ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective close up view of a release mechanism;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the release mechanism of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a detail view of a side frame bar of the infant rocker bed ofthe present invention, showing the push button release mechanisms ofFIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the frame assembly of the infant rockerbed with the covering removed and in the open, extended position;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the infant rocker bed of the presentinvention with the top, head frame portion of the frame folded inward;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the infant rocker bed of the presentinvention with both top and bottom frame portions folded inward; and

FIG. 13 is a side view of the infant rocker bed as shown in FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 13, an infant rocker bed is represented at1 comprising a unitary main frame assembly 3 having upper hollow framemembers 2 and lower hollow frame members 4 that join with mid-sectionframe portions 6, 7 forming an open frame. As best shown in FIG. 10, therocker bed includes side frame members 8, 10 that converge into acommon, rounded, generally U-shaped back portion 12 adjacent to one end.A rounded, generally U-shaped leg portion 14 extends forwardly from theopposite end of the side frame members 17, 19. The mid-section frameportions 6, 7 are defined by a slightly curved or convex ground-engagingbase when the rocker bed is in its fully extended position shown in FIG.1, while the back portion 12 and leg portion 14 curve slightly upwardlyfrom the midsection frame portions 6, 7. As shown in FIG. 5, a plasticfoot 22 is secured via a screw connection or other suitable means toopposite ends 24, 26 of the main frame member 3 to further stabilize therocker bed 1 and prevent tipping of the bed 1 when an infant is placedthereon.

A hinge-type connection between the back portion 12 and the leg portion14 with the mid-section frame portions 6, 7 allows for positioning ofthe back portion 12 and the leg portion 14 relative to the mid-sectionframe portions 6, 7. As best seen from FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10, a firstpair of pivots or hinges 60, 61 join the mid-section frame portion 6 tothe upper and lower frame portions 2, 4 while a second pair of hinges62, 63 likewise join oppositely disposed mid-section frame portion 7 toupper and lower frame portions 2, 4. The hinges 60, 61 and 62, 63include a first and second pair of push button release mechanisms 18 and20, respectively, which are positioned on opposite sides of the rockerbed 1 along the upper and lower frame members 2 and 4 for releasing theupper and lower frame members from a locked position with themid-section frame portion 6.

The first pair of the release mechanisms 18 lock into place or releasethe upper frame members 2 from the mid-section frame portions 6, 7 whenthe release mechanism 18 is pressed inwardly, while the second pair ofrelease mechanisms 20 lock into place or release the lower frame members4 from the mid-section frame portions 6, 7 when the release mechanism 20is pressed inwardly. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the release mechanism 18includes collars 72, 74 that secure frame portion ends 76, 78, forexample, to the release mechanism 18, a base cylinder 21 having acircular recess 80 and bores 82, 84 that correspond to complementaryridges 82′, 84′ on a gasket member 25, spring member 23, outercorresponding cylinder cover 27, securing pin 86 and push button 29.Actuating the push button release members 18, 20 essentially enablespivoting of the frame members 2, 4 relative to the mid-section frameportions 6, 7 between opened and closed positions. When the bed is inthe opened, fully extended position, as shown in FIG. 1, pressing on thepush button release mechanisms 18, 20 causes a release and permitspivoting of the locked frame members 2, 4 to allow for inward folding ofthe frame members 2, 4 (see FIGS. 11 through 13).

In the completely folded state shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, the upperand lower frame members 2, 4 are folded inwardly to converge and rest ontop of the mid-section frame portions 6, 7. Of course, then, when therocker bed is in the closed position shown in FIG. 12, actuating therelease members 18, 20 releases or unlocks the respective upper andlower frame members 2, 4 and enables the respective upper and lowerframe members 2, 4 to be pivoted outwardly away from the mid-sectionframe portions 6, 7 and snapped into a locked position so that therocker bed 1 is then in its fully extended position shown in FIG. 1.

The rocker bed 1 further includes a removable covering 28 that ispositioned along an upper surface 27 of the rocker bed 1 and over theframe member 3 including the back portion 12 and leg portion 14 andsecured thereabout via cooperating snap connections 30 provided on thecovering 28. The covering 28 is further secured about the side framemembers 8, 10 via suitable closure means, shown in FIG. 4 as a pair ofzippers 46, 48 and cooperating Velcro® fasteners 50, 52 provided onopposite sides of the rocker bed 1, although other closure means alsocould be used to the same effect. The covering 28 also includesreinforcement strips 35, 37 on opposite sides of the rocker bed 1 wherethe covering 28 wraps around the mid-section portions 6, 7 and engages aground surface such as a mattress or other type of level surface.Openings 31 in the covering 28 are provided for access to the pushbutton mechanisms 18, 20 and separate recesses 33 accommodate the feet22 on the ends of the rocker bed 1. The covering 28 preferably is madefrom a thick, soft and washable fabric such as cotton, and can includepadded or quilted head and foot areas 32, 34, respectively, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 3.

The covering 28 is sized to be fit tightly about the upper and lowerhollow frame members 2, 4, thereby forming a taut surface 39 when therocker bed is extended and upon which an infant can be placed in alying-down/reclined position. The rocker bed 1 ideally is suited fornewborns and infants weighing up to 20 pounds to avoid “bottoming out”of the rocker bed 1 on the support surface on which it is place and topermit rocking of the bed 1.

A standard infant restraint 36 is attached to the upper surface 27 ofthe covering 28 to prevent the infant from rolling out of the rocker bed1. The restraint 36 includes a waist strap 40 extending about themidsection of the infant and a harness panel 42 that is positionedbetween the legs of the infant and extends up to the infant's midsectionso that cooperating buckle-type fastening means 44 provided on the waiststrap and harness panel can be fitted together for securing the infantto the surface 27 of the covering 28.

The entire covering 28 can be easily removed from the frame assembly 3for cleaning by releasing the covering snaps 30 and opening the zippers46, 48 and Velcro® fasteners 50, 52.

The taut covering 28 in combination with the curved base formed by themidsection frame portions 6, 7, permits a slight rocking motion of therocker bed 1 when an infant is placed on the surface of the rocker bed.The rocking motion does not require any type of drive mechanism and iscaused only by the weight and movement of the infant in combination withthe curved base, or can be caused by a gentle manual rocking of the bedby the infant's caregiver.

In use, it is contemplated that the infant rocker bed 1 is placed on amattress or other level surface and an infant is secured to the topsurface 27 of the covering 28 with the restraint 36 in areclined/lying-down position. The rocker bed 1 then is rockable eitherby motion of the infant himself or by a gentle back and forth, end toend rocking of the infant bed 1 by a caregiver.

When not in use or to be stored for later use, the rocker bed 1 can befolded together into the closed position shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 bypressing the respective push button release mechanisms 18, 20 andfolding the upper and lower frame members 2, 4 inwardly to rest upon themidsection frame portions 6, 7. When the rocker bed 1 is in the foldedposition, the recess 33 acts as a handle member for easy portability ofthe folded rocker bed.

It is therefore to be understood that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the present embodiment have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with the details of thestructure and function of the embodiment, the disclosure is illustrativeonly, and changes may be made within the principles of the embodiment tothe full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms inwhich the appended claims are expressed and reasonable equivalentsthereof.

1. An infant rocker bed assembly, comprising; a unitary main framehaving upper and lower frame members pivotally attached to mid-sectionframe members with means for positioning said upper and lower framemembers; said mid-section frame members defined by curvilinear,ground-engaging bases, said upper and lower frame members convergingaway from said mid-section frame members to curve upwardly and terminatein opposite closed ends; and a flexible covering secured to said upperand lower frame members and said mid-section frame members.
 2. Theinfant rocker bed assembly according to claim 1 wherein said upper andlower frame members include end stabilization members.
 3. The infantrocker bed assembly according to claim 1 wherein said positioning meansinclude a push button release mechanism.
 4. The infant rocker bedassembly according to claim 1 wherein said upper and lower frame membersare configured to be pivoted inwardly toward said mid-section framemembers to position said unitary main frame into a closed position. 5.The infant rocker bed assembly according to claim 1 wherein said upperand lower frame members are configured to be pivoted outwardly away fromsaid mid-section frame members to position said unitary main frame in anopened, fully extended position,
 6. An infant rocker device, comprising:an upper frame member and a lower frame member, said upper frame memberincluding a back portion for supporting an upper body portion of aninfant placed in said device and said lower frame member including a legportion for supporting a lower body portion of the infant; a mid-sectionframe portion joined to each of said upper and lower frame members viarespective positioning members, each of said positioning members havingmeans for releasing and pivoting said upper and lower frame members whensaid means are actuated, wherein said upper and lower frame members areconfigured to be pivoted inwardly toward said mid-section frame portionto position said rocker device into a closed position and to be pivotedoutwardly away from said mid-section frame portion to position saidrocker device in an opened, fully extended position, wherein saidmid-section frame portion forms a curved based that engages a supportsurface, wherein the back portion and leg portion curve upwardly fromsaid mid-section frame portion; a flexible covering tautly andreleasably secured about said upper and lower frame members andsurrounding said mid-section frame portion to provide a firm, topsurface for supporting the infant in a substantially horizontal,lying-down position relative to the support surface, said coveringincluding an infant restraint device for securing the infant to the topsurface of the covering, wherein the covering and mid-section frameportion are together configured to permit manual rocking of the device.7. The infant rocker device according to claim 6, further comprisingstabilizing feet secured to said upper and lower frame members atopposite ends of the device, wherein said feet are configured tostabilize and to limit rocking motion of the rocker device.
 8. Theinfant rocker device according to claim 6, wherein the covering includesclosure means for releasably securing the covering about said upper andlower frame members and said mid-section portion.
 9. The infant rockerdevice according to claim 6, wherein the upper and lower frame memberscomprise hollow aluminum tube members.
 10. The infant rocker deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein said means for releasing and pivoting theupper and lower frame members comprise push button release mechanisms.11. The infant rocker device according to claim 1, wherein saidpositioning members are disposed on opposite sides of each of the upperframe members and lower frame members, respectively.
 12. The infantrocker device according to claim 7, wherein said covering includesopenings for allowing access to said means for releasing and pivotingthe upper and lower frame members and for accommodating said stabilizingfeet.
 13. The infant rocker device according to claim 6, wherein saidcovering includes an infant restraint device for securing the infant tothe top surface of the covering.
 14. The infant rocker device accordingto claim 6, wherein said covering comprises a soft, thick fabric andincludes padded head and foot portions.
 15. A portable bed for rockingan infant, comprising: a unitary main frame assembly including upper andlower spaced frame members interconnected by a mid-section frame portionjoined to facing ends of said upper and lower frame members, saidmid-section frame portion including means for positioning said upper andlower frame members relative to said mid-section frame portion so thatsaid bed is convertible between a closed position and an open, fullyextended position upon actuation of said means, wherein said mid-sectionframe portion forms a curved base that rests upon a support surface andsaid upper and lower spaced frame members define a back portion and legportion converging away from said mid-section frame portion to curveupwardly, and terminate in opposite closed ends, thereby providing asubstantially flat surface upon which an infant can lie substantiallyhorizontally relative to the support surface; and a flexible coveringsecured about said upper and lower frame members and surrounding saidmidsection frame portion to provide a firm, top surface for supportingthe infant when said bed is in the extended position, said coveringincluding an infant restraint device for securing the infant to the topsurface of the covering, wherein the covering and midsection frameportion are together configured to permit manual rocking of the device.16. The portable bed according to claim 15, wherein said back portionsupports an upper body portion of the infant positioned on said portablebed and said leg portion supports a lower body portion of the infant.17. The portable bed according to claim 15, wherein said upper and lowerframe members are configured to be pivoted inwardly toward saidmid-section frame portion to position said portable bed into the closedposition and to be pivoted outwardly away from said mid-section frameportion to position said portable bed into an open, fully extendedposition.
 18. A collapsible device for rocking an infant, comprising: anopen, unitary main frame assembly having upper, lower, and mid-sectionframe portions, said frame assembly including means for releasing andpivoting said upper and lower frame portions relative to saidmid-section frame portion, such that said frame member is convertiblebetween a closed position and an open, fully extended position, whereinsaid mid-section frame portion forms a curved base for partiallycontacting a support surface; a flexible covering stretched tautly aboutsaid frame member to form a firm supporting surface for supporting saidinfant in a substantially horizontal, lying-down position relative to asupport surface on which the device is disposed when said frame memberis in the open, fully extended position, wherein said covering and saidcurved mid-section frame portions are configured so that when thecovering is positioned around said frame, the device is manuallyrockable.
 19. The device according to claim 18, further comprisingstabilizing feet secured to opposite ends of the frame member, whereinsaid feet are configured to stabilize and to limit rocking motion of therocker device.
 20. The device according to claim 18, wherein thecovering includes closure means for releasably securing the coveringabout the frame member.
 21. The device according to claim 18, whereinthe frame members comprise hollow aluminum tube members.
 22. The deviceaccording to claim 18, wherein the means for releasing and pivoting theupper and lower frame members comprise positioning members having pushbutton release mechanisms.